TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Attorney General Pam Bondi released the following statement on the passage of the Organized Retail Theft Bill, Senate Bill 1404, in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. This bill, sponsored by Senator Kelli Stargel, provides prosecutors and law enforcement with the tools needed to properly prosecute individuals and hold them accountable for organized retail theft. Its companion bill, House Bill 1173, is sponsored by Representative Ross Spano.

“By strengthening law enforcement’s and prosecutors’ ability to charge and prosecute cases of organized retail theft, we are better protecting both businesses and the consumers who ultimately pay for this loss,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I thank Senator Stargel and the Senate Criminal Justice Committee for supporting the advancement of this legislation.”